Locking and unlocking system, portable terminal capable of communicating with server, locking and unlocking method executed by portable terminal, and non-transitory storage medium storing program

ABSTRACT

A locking and unlocking system includes a portable terminal and a server. The portable terminal includes a service providing unit, a first sending unit, and a first receiving unit. The service providing unit provides a use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities by communicating with another server. The first sending unit sends a first signal to the server in response to a request from the service providing unit. The first signal requests authentication information used for locking and unlocking. The first receiving unit receives the authentication information from the server. The server includes a second receiving unit and a second sending unit. The second sending unit sends a second signal including the authentication information to the portable terminal when the second receiving unit receives the first signal.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-128205 filed onJun. 28, 2016 including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a locking and unlocking system, aportable terminal capable of communicating with a server, a locking andunlocking method executed by the portable terminal, and a non-transitorystorage medium storing a program.

2. Description of Related Art

A key management system is disclosed in which a portable terminal can beused as an electronic key by receiving, by the portable terminal,authentication information for unlocking a vehicle from a server via anetwork (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2006-118122 (JP 2006-118122 A)).

The use of such a configuration saves time and effort for handing overan electronic key when a plurality of users use the same vehicle, suchas a rental car, a shared car, or a company car, in different timezones, thus improving user convenience.

A similar technique can be used for locking and unlocking the samefacilities (for example, a conference room, recreation facilities, agymnasium, etc.) that a plurality of users use in different time zones.Using a portable terminal as an electronic key for a locking andunlocking device installed in such facilities improves user convenience.

SUMMARY

In the meantime, when an application program (an existing application),created by a third party, is already available for use by a portableterminal with which a user can make a use reservation for a vehicle orfacilities, the existing application may be used to accept a usereservation for a vehicle or the facilities.

However, in a configuration in which authentication information isstored in a server, corresponding to an existing application, and theauthentication information is sent from the server to a user who hasmade a use reservation, there is room for improvement from the viewpointof security because the server in which the authentication informationis stored is managed, for example, by a third party.

In view of this, the present disclosure provides a locking and unlockingsystem, a portable terminal capable of communicating with a server, alocking and unlocking method executed by the portable terminal, and anon-transitory storage medium storing a program, all of which can reducethe leakage of authentication information, used for locking or unlockinga vehicle or facilities, when use reservations are accepted via anexisting application when a plurality of users will use the same vehicleor facilities in different time zones.

A first aspect of the disclosure provides a locking and unlockingsystem. The locking and unlocking system according to the first aspectincludes: a portable terminal; and a server capable of communicatingwith the portable terminal. The portable terminal includes: a serviceproviding unit; a first sending unit; and a first receiving unit. Theservice providing unit is configured to provide a use reservationservice for a vehicle or facilities by communicating with another serverdifferent from the server. The first sending unit is configured to senda first signal to the server in response to a request from the serviceproviding unit, when a first operation is performed during execution ofprocessing by the service providing unit for providing the usereservation service. The first signal requests authenticationinformation used for locking and unlocking the vehicle or thefacilities. And the first receiving unit is configured to receive theauthentication information from the server. And the server includes: asecond receiving unit and a second sending unit. The second receivingunit is configured to receive the first signal from the portableterminal. And the second sending unit is configured to send a secondsignal to the portable terminal when the second receiving unit receivesthe first signal. The second signal includes the authenticationinformation.

According to the aspect described above, the authentication informationis transferred and managed in the locking and unlocking system asfollows. That is, in response to a call from the service providing unit(existing application) that provides the use reservation service for avehicle or facilities, the first sending unit of the portable terminalrequests the server, different from the other server to which theexisting application is connected, to return the authenticationinformation used for unlocking the vehicle or facilities. After that,the first receiving unit of the portable terminal receives theauthentication information from the server different from the otherserver. This means that, since the authentication information is storedin the server, different from the other server connected to the existingapplication, and is managed according to a dedicated security policy,the leakage of the authentication information to the outside world canbe reduced.

In the first aspect of the disclosure, the portable terminal may includea third sending unit configured to send a third signal to apredetermined device provided in the vehicle or the facilities inresponse to a request from the service providing unit when a secondoperation is performed during execution of processing by the serviceproviding unit for providing the use reservation service. The thirdsignal may include the authentication information. The third signal mayrequest locking or unlocking of the vehicle or the facilities.

In the first aspect of the disclosure, the use reservation service maybe executed by an application program installed in the portableterminal. And the first sending unit may be configured to send the firstsignal to the server, when a user performs the first operation on theportable terminal during execution of the application program.

In the first aspect of the disclosure, the first sending unit may beconfigured to send the first signal to the server, when the userperforms an input operation on the portable terminal to cause theportable terminal to send information during execution of theapplication program. The information may include a use reservation forthe vehicle or the facilities.

In the first aspect of the disclosure, the server may be managed byanother organization different from an organization managing the otherserver.

In the first aspect of the disclosure, the third sending unit may beconfigured to send the third signal to the predetermined device when anoperation to lock or unlock the vehicle or the facilities is performed.

A second aspect of the disclosure provides a portable terminal capableof communicating with a server. The portable terminal according to thesecond aspect includes: a service providing unit; a first sending unit;and a first receiving unit. The service providing unit is configured toprovide a use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities bycommunicating with another server different from the server. The firstsending unit is configured to send a first signal to the server inresponse to a request from the service providing unit, when a firstoperation is performed during execution of processing by the serviceproviding unit for providing the use reservation service. The firstsignal requests authentication information used for locking andunlocking the vehicle or the facilities. And the first receiving unit isconfigured to receive the authentication information from the server.

In the second aspect of the disclosure, the portable terminal capable ofcommunicating with the server may include a third sending unitconfigured to send a third signal to a predetermined device provided inthe vehicle or the facilities in response to a request from the serviceproviding unit when a second operation is performed during execution ofprocessing by the service providing unit for providing the usereservation service. The third signal may include the authenticationinformation. The third signal may request locking or unlocking of thevehicle or the facilities.

In the second aspect of the disclosure, the use reservation service maybe executed by an application program installed in the portableterminal. And the first sending unit may be configured to send the firstsignal to the server, when a user performs the first operation on theportable terminal during execution of the application program.

In the second aspect of the disclosure, the first sending unit may beconfigured to send the first signal to the server when the user performsan input operation on the portable terminal to cause the portableterminal to send information during execution of the applicationprogram. The information may include a use reservation for the vehicleor the facilities.

In the second aspect of the disclosure, the server may be managed byanother organization different from an organization managing the otherserver.

In the second aspect of the disclosure, the third sending unit may beconfigured to send the third signal to the predetermined device when anoperation to lock or unlock the vehicle or the facilities is performed.

A third aspect of the disclosure provides a locking and unlocking methodexecuted by a portable terminal. The portable terminal includes aservice providing unit, a first sending unit, and a first receivingunit. The portable terminal is capable of communicating with a server inwhich authentication information is stored. The locking and unlockingmethod according to the third aspect includes: providing, by the serviceproviding unit, a use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities bycommunicating with another server different from the server; sending, bythe first sending unit, a first signal to the server in response to arequest from the service providing unit when a first operation isperformed during execution of processing by the service providing unitfor providing the use reservation service, the first signal requestingthe authentication information used for locking and unlocking thevehicle or the facilities; and receiving, by the first receiving unit,the authentication information from the server.

In the third aspect of the disclosure, the portable terminal may includea third sending unit. And the locking and unlocking method executed bythe portable terminal may include: sending, by the third sending unit, athird signal to a predetermined device provided in the vehicle or thefacilities in response to a request from the service providing unit,when a second operation is performed during execution of processing bythe service providing unit for providing the use reservation service.The third signal may include the authentication information. The thirdsignal may request locking or unlocking of the vehicle or thefacilities.

In the third aspect of the disclosure, the use reservation service maybe executed by an application program installed in the portableterminal. And the first signal may be sent to the server by the firstsending unit when a user performs the first operation on the portableterminal during execution of the application program.

In the third aspect of the disclosure, the first signal may be sent tothe server by the first sending unit when the user performs an inputoperation on the portable terminal to cause the portable terminal tosend information during execution of the application program. Theinformation may include a use reservation for the vehicle or thefacilities.

In the third aspect of the disclosure, the server may be managed byanother organization different from an organization managing the otherserver.

In the third aspect of the disclosure, sending the third signal to thepredetermined device when the second operation is performed may includesending the third signal to the predetermined device when an operationto lock or unlock the vehicle or the facilities is performed.

A fourth aspect of the disclosure provides a non-transitory storagemedium storing a program, the program being installed in a portableterminal capable of communicating with a first server in whichauthentication information is stored and a second server which providesa use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities, theauthentication information being used for locking or unlocking thevehicle or the facilities. The program is configured to cause theportable terminal to: provide the use reservation service bycommunicating with the second server; and send a first signal to thefirst server, when a first operation is performed, the first operationrelating to a reservation made by the use reservation service, the firstsignal requesting the first server to send the authenticationinformation used for locking and unlocking the vehicle or the facilitiesto the portable terminal.

According to the aspects described above, the present disclosureprovides a locking and unlocking system, a portable terminal capable ofcommunicating with a server, a locking and unlocking method executed bythe portable terminal, and a non-transitory storage medium storing aprogram, all of which can reduce the leakage of authenticationinformation, used for locking or unlocking a vehicle or facilities, whenuse reservations are accepted via an existing application when aplurality of users will use the same vehicle or facilities in differenttime zones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally showing an example of aconfiguration of a locking/unlocking system;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram generally showing an example of aconfiguration of a locking/unlocking device and a key unit;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing an operation of thelocking/unlocking system; and

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of thelocking/unlocking system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a configuration of alocking/unlocking system 1 according to this embodiment will bedescribed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally showing an example of aconfiguration of the locking/unlocking system 1 according to thisembodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram generally showing an example of aconfiguration of a locking/unlocking device 11 and a key unit 12included in a vehicle 10.

The locking/unlocking system 1 includes the vehicle 10, a portableterminal 20, and a center server 30. In addition, the locking/unlockingsystem 1 includes a third party server 50 as a component related to thelocking/unlocking system 1.

The vehicle 10 is a target for which locking/unlocking (locking andunlocking) is performed in the locking/unlocking system 1. The vehicle10 includes the locking/unlocking device 11 and the key unit 12.

The vehicle 10 in this embodiment is assumed to be a vehicle that can beused by a plurality of users in different time zones, such as a rentalcar, a shared car (provided by either a business operator or anindividual), or a pool car in an organization.

The locking/unlocking device 11 locks and unlocks the door of thevehicle 10 in response to the lock signal and the unlock signal (both ofwhich are an example of the second request) sent from the key unit 12 asradio waves in the Radio Frequency (RF: high frequency) band (forexample, 300 MHz to 3 GHz) (hereinafter referred to as “RF radiowaves”). The locking/unlocking device 11 includes a Low Frequency (LF)radio wave transmitter 111, an RF radio wave receiver 112, averification Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 113, a body ECU 114, and adoor locking motor 115.

The locking/unlocking device 11 operates on electric power supplied froman auxiliary battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 10.

The LF radio wave transmitter 111, incorporated for example in thecenter console in the vehicle interior or in the door handle, sendsradio waves in the LF band (for example, 30 Hz to 300 kHz) (hereinafterreferred to as “LF radio waves”) under the control of the verificationECU 113 (LF sending processing unit 1131 that will be described later).

The RF radio wave receiver 112, provided for example in the trim of thecargo room of the vehicle 10, receives RF radio waves under the controlof the verification ECU 113 (RF reception processing unit 1132 that willbe described later).

The verification ECU 113 is an electronic control unit that controls thelocking and unlocking of the door of the vehicle 10 in response to thelock signal and the unlock signal received from the key unit 12. Theverification ECU 113, which is for example configured mainly by amicrocomputer, executes programs, stored in the ROM, on the CPU forimplementing various control processing. The verification ECU 113includes an LF sending processing unit 1131, an RF reception processingunit 1132, an authentication processing unit 1133, and alocking/unlocking control unit 1134 each as a functional unitimplemented by executing one or more programs on the CPU. In addition,the verification ECU 113 includes a storage unit 1135 implemented as astorage area in the internal memory.

The LF sending processing unit 1131 sends LF radio waves to the vehicleinterior and the vehicle exterior through the LF radio wave transmitter111.

The RF reception processing unit 1132 receives RF radio waves throughthe RF radio wave receiver 112. More specifically, the RF receptionprocessing unit 1132 receives the lock signal and the unlock signal sentfrom the key unit as the RF radio wave.

The authentication processing unit 1133 performs authentication based onthe key information (key information 1245 b that will be describedlater), included in the lock signal or the unlock signal, when the RFreception processing unit 1132 receives the lock signal or the unlocksignal. More specifically, the authentication processing unit 1133determines that the authentication is successful if key information 1135a, registered in advance in the storage unit 1135, and the keyinformation, included in the lock signal or the unlock signal, match,and determines that the authentication is not successful if they do notmatch.

The locking/unlocking control unit 1134 sends the lock command (when theRF reception processing unit 1132 receives the lock signal) or theunlock command (when the RF reception processing unit 1132 receives theunlock signal) to the body ECU 114 through an in-vehicle network, suchas the Controller Area Network (CAN), if the authentication by theauthentication processing unit 1133 is successful.

The body ECU 114 is an electronic control unit that controls theoperation of the door locking motor 115 communicably connected throughone-to-one communication lines. The body ECU 114 outputs the controlcommand, which causes the door locking motor 115 to perform the lockingoperation, in response to the lock command from the verification ECU113. In addition, the body ECU 114 outputs the control command, whichcauses the door locking motor 115 to perform the unlocking operation, inresponse to the unlock command from the verification ECU 113.

The door locking motor 115 is a known electric actuator for locking andunlocking the door (including the trunk lid, the back door, etc.) of thevehicle 10 in response to the control command from the body ECU 114.

The key unit 12, arranged inside the vehicle 10 (vehicle interior),sends the lock signal and the unlock signal to the locking/unlockingdevice 11 as RF radio waves in response to each of the lock request andthe unlock request (both are an example of the first request) sent fromthe portable terminal 20. The key unit 12 includes an LF radio wavereceiver 121, an RF radio wave transmitter 122, a communication device123, and a key ECU 124.

The key unit 12 may be arranged at a position that is not visible from auser seated on each seat of the vehicle 10 (for example, inside theglove box or the center console box). In addition, the key unit 12 mayor may not be fixed in the vehicle 10. Furthermore, the key unit 12 maybe operated on the built-in button cell batteries or may be operated onelectric power supplied from an auxiliary battery mounted on the vehicle10.

The LF radio wave receiver 121 receives LF radio waves under the controlof the key ECU 124 (LF reception processing unit 1241 that will bedescribed later).

The RF radio wave transmitter 122 sends RF radio waves under the controlof the key ECU 124 (RF sending processing unit 1242 that will bedescribed later).

The communication device 123 is an arbitrary device that communicateswith the portable terminal 20 at a relatively short distance (a distanceshort enough for communication between the vehicle interior and thevehicle exterior) in conformity with a predetermined communicationstandard under the control of the key ECU 124. For example, thecommunication device 123 may be a Bluetooth (registered trademark) LowEnergy (BLE) communication module that communicates with the portableterminal 20 in conformity with the BLE communication standard. Thedescription will be continued below on the premise that thecommunication standard adopted in the communication device 123 conformsto the BLE communication.

The communication device 123 may also be a communication deviceconforming to a short-range communication standard (for example, NearField Communication (NFC) standard) having a very short communicabledistance. In this case, the communication device 123 may be built in aposition close to the body surface outside the vehicle interior of thevehicle 10 (for example, inside the door handle). This allows the keyunit 12 (the key ECU 124) to communicate with the portable terminal 20in the vehicle exterior even when the communicable distance of thecommunication device 123 is very short.

The key ECU 124 is an electronic control unit that controls thetransmission of the lock signal and the unlock signal to thelocking/unlocking device 11 in response to each of the lock request andthe unlock request received from the portable terminal 20. The key ECU124, which is for example configured mainly by a microcomputer, executesvarious programs, stored in the ROM, on the CPU for implementing variouscontrol processing. The key ECU 124 includes an LF reception processingunit 1241, an RF sending processing unit 1242, a communicationprocessing unit 1243, and an authentication processing unit 1244 each asa functional unit implemented by executing one or more programs. Inaddition, the key ECU 124 includes a storage unit 1245 implemented, forexample, as a storage area of the internal memory.

The LF reception processing unit 1241 receives LF radio waves throughthe LF radio wave receiver 121. For example, the LF reception processingunit 1241 receives LF radio waves sent from the locking/unlocking device11.

The RF sending processing unit 1242 sends RF radio waves through the RFradio wave transmitter 122. For example, when the authentication by theauthentication processing unit 1244 is successful, the RF sendingprocessing unit 1242 sends the lock signal (when the communicationprocessing unit 1243 receives the lock request) or the unlock signal(when the communication processing unit 1243 receives the unlockrequest) each of which includes the key information 1245 b that will bedescribed later.

The communication processing unit 1243 communicates with the portableterminal 20 through the communication device 123. For example, thecommunication processing unit 1243 receives the lock request and theunlock request from the portable terminal 20 through the communicationdevice 123. In addition, when the lock signal is sent from the RFsending processing unit 1242 to the locking/unlocking device 11 inresponse to the lock request from the portable terminal 20, thecommunication processing unit 1243 sends the notification (locknotification), which indicates that the vehicle 10 has been locked, tothe portable terminal 20 in response to the request from theauthentication processing unit 1244. This notification allows theportable terminal 20 to know that the vehicle 10 has been locked.

When the communication processing unit 1243 receives the lock request orthe unlock request from the portable terminal 20, the authenticationprocessing unit 1244 performs authentication based on the BLEauthentication information (an example of the first authenticationinformation) associated with the key unit 12. The BLE authenticationinformation is included in the lock request or the unlock request and isuniquely set for the key unit 12 in advance. More specifically, theauthentication processing unit 1244 determines that the authenticationis successful if the BLE authentication information 1245 a, registeredin advance in the storage unit 1245, and the BLE authenticationinformation, included in the lock request or the unlock request, match,and determines that the authentication is not successful if they do notmatch.

In addition, if the authentication corresponding to the unlock requestreceived by the communication processing unit 1243 is successful, theauthentication processing unit 1244 turns on the power of the key unit12. After that, the authentication processing unit 1244 sends thesending request to the RF sending processing unit 1242 to send theunlock signal to the locking/unlocking device 11.

In addition, if the authentication corresponding to the lock requestreceived by the communication processing unit 1243 is successful, theauthentication processing unit 1244 sends the sending request to the RFsending processing unit 1242 to send the lock signal to thelocking/unlocking device 11 and, after that, sends the sending requestto the communication processing unit 1243 to send the lock notificationto the portable terminal 20. After that, authentication processing unit1244 turns off the power of the key unit 12.

Even when the power of the key unit 12 is OFF, the functions of theunits that consume a very small amount of power, such as thecommunication processing unit 1243 and the authentication processingunit 1244, are still available for use. When the power of the key unit12 is switched from OFF to ON, the units that consume a large amount ofpower, such as the LF radio wave receiver 121 and the RF radio wavetransmitter 122, become available for use.

In addition, if the authentication is successful, the authenticationprocessing unit 1244 restores the key information 1245 b, stored in thestorage unit 1245, to the usable state. For example, the key information1245 b, which is in the inaccessible state or the encrypted state, isstored in the state not usable for the authentication by thelocking/unlocking device 11. Therefore, if the authentication issuccessful, the authentication processing unit 1244 changes the accessright for accessing the storage unit 1245 so that the key information1245 b becomes accessible or decrypts the encrypted key information 1245b based on the BLE authentication information. This processing allowsthe RF sending processing unit 1242 to access the key information 1245b, which is not usually accessible, and then send the lock signal andthe unlock signal, each of which includes the key information 1245 b, tothe locking/unlocking device 11, or to send the lock signal and theunlock signal, each of which includes the decrypted key information 1245b, to the locking/unlocking device 11. Therefore, the locking/unlockingdevice 11 (more specifically, the authentication processing unit 1133)can perform authentication appropriately based on the key information1245 b included in the lock signal and unlock signal. In addition, evenif a malicious third party illegally obtains the key unit 12, the theftof the vehicle 10 can be prevented because the key information 1245 b inthe key unit 12 is not accessible or is encrypted.

The portable terminal 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a tabletterminal, or the like. The portable terminal 20 can bi-directionallycommunicate with the center server 30 and the third party server 50through a predetermined communication network (for example, a mobilephone network with many base stations as its terminals, the Internet,etc.). The portable terminal 20 includes communication devices 21 and22, a processing device 23, and a touch panel display (hereinaftersimply referred to as a display) 24.

The communication device 21 is an arbitrary device that communicateswith the key unit 12 according to the same communication standard asthat of the communication device 123. For example, the communicationdevice 21 is a BLE communication module.

The communication device 22 is an arbitrary device that communicateswith the center server 30 and the third party server 50 through apredetermined communication network.

The processing device 23, which includes a CPU, an auxiliary storagedevice, and the like, includes a first communication processing unit231, a second communication processing unit 232, a locking/unlockingrequest unit 233, a third party application unit 234, and anauthentication information erasing unit 235 each as a functional unitimplemented by executing one or more programs on the CPU. In addition,the processing device 23 includes a storage unit 236 implemented as astorage area in the auxiliary storage device.

The first communication processing unit 231 uses the communicationdevice 21 to wirelessly communicate with the key unit 12 for sending andreceiving various signals. For example, the first communicationprocessing unit 231 sends the lock signal and the unlock signal to thekey unit 12 in response to a request from the locking/unlocking requestunit 233.

The second communication processing unit 232 (an example of the firstreceiving unit) uses the communication device 22 to wirelesslycommunicate with a base station for sending and receiving varioussignals such as data signals and control signals. In this embodiment,the second communication processing unit 232 sends and receives varioussignals to and from the center server 30 and the third party server 50through a mobile phone network with base stations as its terminals andthe Internet. For example, in response to a request from thelocking/unlocking request unit 233, the second communication processingunit 232 sends the signal that requests the BLE authenticationinformation to the center server 30 and, at the same time, receives thesignal that includes the BLE authentication information sent from thecenter server 30. The BLE authentication information received from thesecond communication processing unit 232 is stored in the storage unit236. In addition, in response to a request from the locking/unlockingrequest unit 233, the second communication processing unit 232 sends thesignal that requests permission to use the vehicle 10 to the centerserver 30 and, at the same time, receives the signal that indicatespermission to use the vehicle 10 from the center server 30. The “use ofvehicle 10” includes an operation to unlock the vehicle 10, to get inthe vehicle 10, to turn on the ignition switch of the vehicle 10, and todrive the vehicle 10 for traveling. In addition, in response to arequest from the third party application unit 234, the secondcommunication processing unit 232 sends the signal that requests thedisclosure of schedule information on the vehicle 10 to the third partyserver 50 and, at the same time, receives the schedule information onthe vehicle 10 from the third party server 50 as the reference data. Inaddition, in response to a request from the third party application unit234, the second communication processing unit 232 sends various requestsfor making the use reservation of the vehicle 10, and requests for thesettlement processing for the use of the vehicle 10, to the third partyserver 50.

The locking/unlocking request unit 233 (an example of the third sendingunit) sends the lock request (third signal) that includes the BLEauthentication information, or the unlock request (third signal) thatincludes the BLE authentication information, to the key unit 12 via thefirst communication processing unit 231 in response to a predeterminedoperation (second operation) on the Graphical User Interface (GUI)displayed on the display 24 as an operation screen. For example, theLock button for requesting the locking of the vehicle 10, and the Unlockbutton for requesting the unlocking of the vehicle 10, are drawn on theGUI on the display 24. The lock request is sent by touching the Lockbutton, and the unlock request is sent by touching the Unlock button.

The operation for sending the lock request and the unlock request to thekey unit 12 may be an operation on a hardware operation unit provided onthe portable terminal 20, instead of the touch operation on the display24. In addition, if the BLE authentication information is not stored inthe storage unit 236 (that is, if the BLE authentication information isnot yet received from the center server 30, or if the BLE authenticationinformation is already erased by the authentication information erasingunit 235), the BLE authentication information is not included in thelock signal and unlock signal. Therefore, even if the lock signal or theunlock signal not including the BLE authentication information is sentto the key unit 12, the door of the vehicle 10 cannot be locked andunlocked. In addition, if the BLE authentication information is notstored in the storage unit 236, it is also possible not to send the locksignal or the unlock signal.

In addition, in response to a predetermined operation (first operation)on the GUI, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 (an example of thefirst sending unit) sends the signal that requests the BLEauthentication information (authentication information request signal)to the center server 30 via the second communication processing unit232. For example, the input fields for entering the user'sidentification information, password, and use date and time of thevehicle 10 for use reservation, and the Send button are drawn on the GUIof the display 24. The authentication information request signal (firstsignal) is sent to the center server 30 by entering the necessary itemsand then touching the Send button.

The information on the use reservation date and time of the vehicle 10that is reserved for use may be automatically entered based on the usereservation function of the third party application unit 234 providedfor reserving the use of the vehicle 10.

In addition, at the start of using the vehicle 10 (before unlocking thevehicle 10 for the first time), the locking/unlocking request unit 233sends the signal that includes the position information on the portableterminal 20, and that requests permission to use the vehicle 10, to thecenter server 30 via the second communication processing unit 232 inresponse to a predetermined operation (third operation) by the user onthe GUT. This allows a vehicle use management unit 322 of the centerserver 30 to receive the signal and, based on the position informationon the portable terminal 20 included in the signal, to confirm that theuser has arrived at the parking position of the vehicle 10. After that,the vehicle use management unit 322 confirms that the current date andtime is immediately before the use start date and time of the vehicle 10or within the use reservation date and time and, then, sends the usepermission signal to the portable terminal 20.

If it is determined that the user has arrived at the parking position ofthe vehicle 10 and that the current date and time is immediately beforethe use start date and time of the vehicle 10 or within the usereservation date and time, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 mayautomatically send the signal that requests permission to use thevehicle 10 to the center server 30. In addition, the portable terminal20, which has the GPS positioning function and the base stationpositioning function both of which are known, can acquire the positioninformation on the portable terminal 20 using these positioningfunctions.

In this embodiment, the function of the locking/unlocking request unit233 is incorporated in the third party application unit 234, forexample, in the form of a Software Development Kit (SDK) that will bedescribed later. Therefore, the GUI for realizing the function of thelocking/unlocking request unit 233 is displayed on the display 24 by thethird party application unit 234. When this GUI is displayed and any ofthe above-described predetermined operations (the first operation, thesecond operation, and the third operation) is performed on the GUI, thelocking/unlocking request unit 233 is called from the third partyapplication unit 234 to realize each function of the locking/unlockingrequest unit 233 described above. That is, when a user's predeterminedoperation (first operation) is performed on the GUI during execution ofthe third party application unit 234, the locking/unlocking request unit233 sends the authentication information request signal to the centerserver 30 in response to a call from the third party application unit234. In addition, when a user's predetermined operation (secondoperation) is performed on the GUI during execution of the third partyapplication unit 234, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 sends alock request or an unlock request to the key unit 12 in response to acall from the third party application unit 234. Also, when a user'spredetermined operation (third operation) is performed on the GUI duringexecution of the third party application unit 234, the locking/unlockingrequest unit 233 sends the signal that requests permission to use thevehicle 10 to the center server 30 in response to a call from the thirdparty application unit 234.

The third party application unit 234 (an example of the serviceproviding unit) is a functional unit realized by executing apredetermined application program (third party application program)installed in the portable terminal 20. The third party application unit234 communicates with the third party server 50 through the secondcommunication processing unit 232 to provide a predetermined servicedifferent from the locking/unlocking function of the vehicle 10 (forexample, use reservation service for the vehicle 10 in car sharing,settlement service in car sharing etc.). For example, the third partyapplication unit 234 causes the display 24 to display the GUI as theoperation screen and, in response to a user's predetermined operation onthe GUI, carries out two-way communication with the third party serverto make a use reservation for the vehicle 10. In addition, in responseto a user's predetermined operation on the GUI, the third partyapplication unit 234 carries out two-way communication with the thirdparty server 50 to perform the settlement processing for using thevehicle 10.

The third party application unit 234 may be replaced by a similarfunctional unit implemented by a program provided, not by a third party,that is, a third party different from the user's own organizationproviding the programs for implementing the locking/unlocking requestunit 233 and for managing the center server 30, but by the user's ownorganization. In such a case, the third party server 50 is replaced by aservice provision server managed by the user's own organization.

The authentication information erasing unit 235 erases the BLEauthentication information, received from the center server 30 via thesecond communication processing unit 232, from the storage unit 236. Forexample, when the use end date and time of the vehicle 10 has elapsed,the authentication information erasing unit 235 erases the BLEauthentication information. This prevents the user of the portableterminal 20 from being able to use the vehicle 10 on a date/time otherthan the use reservation date/time.

The authentication information erasing unit 235 can confirm the use enddate and time of the vehicle 10 based on the use expiration informationthat is sent with the BLE authentication information from the centerserver 30.

The center server 30 manages the use status of the vehicle 10. Thecenter server 30 includes a communication device 31 and a managementdevice 32.

The communication device 31 is an arbitrary device that communicateswith the portable terminal 20 and the third party server 50 through apredetermined communication network.

The management device 32, configured mainly by one or more computers,includes a communication processing unit 321 and the vehicle usemanagement unit 322, each as a functional unit implemented by executingone or more programs on the CPU. In addition, the management device 32includes a user information DB 324 and an authentication information DB325 both of which are stored in the internal auxiliary storage device.

The communication processing unit 321 (an example of the secondreceiving unit) uses the communication device 31 to send and receivevarious signals to and from the portable terminal 20. For example, thecommunication processing unit 321 receives the signal that requests theBLE authentication information (authentication information requestsignal) from the portable terminal 20 and, in response to a request fromthe vehicle use management unit 322 corresponding to that signal, sendsthe signal that includes the BLE authentication information to theportable terminal 20. In addition, the communication processing unit 321receives the signal that requests permission to use the vehicle 10 fromthe portable terminal 20 and, in response to a request from the vehicleuse management unit 322 corresponding to that signal, sends the usepermission signal for the vehicle 10 to the portable terminal 20.

The vehicle use management unit 322 (an example of the second sendingunit) sends the BLE authentication information to the portable terminal20 via the communication processing unit 321 in response to theauthentication information request signal that the communicationprocessing unit 321 receives from the portable terminal 20. For example,the vehicle use management unit 322 verifies whether the user'sidentification information and password, included in the authenticationinformation request signal, match the user's identification informationand password registered in advance in the user information DB 324. Ifthey match, the vehicle use management unit 322 determines that user isan authorized user and retrieves the BLE authentication information,corresponding to the key unit 12 mounted on the vehicle 10, from theauthentication information DB 325. In addition, the vehicle usemanagement unit 322 extracts the use end date and time based on theinformation on the use reservation date and time of the vehicle 10included in the authentication information request signal. Then, thevehicle use management unit 322 sends the signal that includes the BLEauthentication information, as well as the use expiration information(use end date and time of the vehicle 10) on the BLE authenticationinformation, to the portable terminal 20 via the communicationprocessing unit 321.

The user information DB 324 stores the identification information andthe corresponding password on the users registered in advance for usingthe vehicle 10.

The authentication information DB 325 stores the BLE authenticationinformation associated with the identification information unique to thekey unit 12.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the outline of the operation of thelocking/unlocking system 1 according to this embodiment will bedescribed.

In FIG. 3, in order to conceptually describe the exchange of signalsamong the main components, the hardware (communication devices 21, 22,and 31) and the software (first communication processing unit 231,second communication processing unit 232, and communication processingunits 321) for implementing the communication function are omitted.

In step S601, in response to a user's predetermined operation on the GUIdisplayed on the display 24, the third party application unit 234carries out two-way communication with the third party server 50 to makea use reservation for the vehicle 10.

In step S602, when a predetermined operation (first operation) isperformed on the GUI, the third party application unit 234 calls thelocking/unlocking request unit 233 that is installed in the portableterminal 20 in the form it is incorporated in the third partyapplication unit 234 as an SDK.

In step S603, the SDK (the locking/unlocking request unit 233) sends thesignal that requests the BLE authentication information (authenticationinformation request signal) to the vehicle use management unit 322 usingan Application Programming Interface (API) 327 that calls the vehicleuse management unit 322. As a result, the vehicle use management unit322 is called. The vehicle use management unit 322 verifies whether theuser's identification information and password, included in theauthentication information request signal, match the identificationinformation and password registered in advance in the user informationDB 324. If they match, the vehicle use management unit 322 retrieves theBLE authentication information, corresponding to the key unit 12arranged inside the vehicle 10, from the authentication information DB325 and sends the retrieved BLE authentication information to the SDK(locking/unlocking request unit 233) using the API 327. In this way, theBLE authentication information is stored in the storage unit 236.

Note that, even when the locking/unlocking request unit 233 provided asan SDK is called, the execution of the third party application unit 234is continued on the portable terminal 20 with the GUI displayed on thedisplay 24 by the third party application unit 234.

In step S604, when a user's predetermined operation (second operation)is performed on the GUI, the third party application unit 234 calls theSDK (the locking/unlocking request unit 233).

In step S605, the SDK (the locking/unlocking request unit 233) sends alock request or an unlock request that includes the BLE authenticationinformation to the key unit 12. As a result, without leaving the GUIdisplayed by the third party application unit 234, the user can operatethe locking/unlocking device 11 via the key unit 12 as described abovefor locking or unlocking the vehicle 10.

Next, a specific example of the operation of the locking/unlockingsystem 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

Steps S702 to S708 represent a series of operations from the time a usereservation for the vehicle 10 is made to the time the BLEauthentication information is sent to the portable terminal 20.

In step S702, the third party application unit 234 of the portableterminal 20 is started in response to a user's predetermined operation(for example, a touch operation on the icon of the third partyapplication displayed on the display 24).

In step S704, in response to a predetermined operation on the GUIdisplayed on the display 24, the third party application unit 234 of theportable terminal 20 performs two-way communication with the third partyserver 50 to make a use reservation for the vehicle 10.

In step S706, the third party application unit 234 of the portableterminal 20 calls the locking/unlocking request unit 233 in response toa predetermined operation (first operation) on the GUI displayed on thedisplay 24. Then, the called locking/unlocking request unit 233 sendsthe signal that requests the BLE authentication information(authentication information request signal) to the center server 30. Asa result, the center server 30 receives the authentication informationrequest signal.

In step S708, the third party application unit 234 of the center server30 authenticates the user based on the user's identification informationand password included in the authentication information request signaland, then, sends the BLE authentication information, corresponding tothe key unit 12 arranged inside the vehicle 10, to the portable terminal20.

The vehicle use management unit 322 may send the BLE authenticationinformation to the portable terminal 20 immediately before (for example,10 minutes before) the use start date and time of the vehicle 10. Thisreduces the possibility that the user will unlock the vehicle 10 and usethe vehicle 10 before the use start date and time of the vehicle 10.

Next, steps S710 to S720 represent a series of operations at the startof the use of the vehicle 10.

In step S710, in response to a user's predetermined operation on the GUIdisplayed on the display 24, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 ofthe portable terminal 20 sends the signal that requests permission touse the vehicle 10 to the center server 30 via the processing unit 232.

In step S712, the vehicle use management unit 322 of the center server30 sends the use permission signal to the portable terminal 20 via thecommunication processing unit 321. As a result, the locking/unlockingrequest unit 233 of the portable terminal 20 receives the use permissionsignal via the second communication processing unit 232.

Note that the processing flow may be modified as follows. That is, theBLE authentication information, received by the portable terminal 20during the processing of step S708, is encrypted, and the encrypted BLEauthentication information is decrypted using the use permission signalreceived by the portable terminal 20 during the processing of step S712.This decryption processing with the use of the use permission signalprevents the user from unlocking the vehicle 10 for using the vehicle 10before the use start date and time of the vehicle 10.

In step S714, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 of the portableterminal 20, which is called from the third party application unit 234in response to a user's predetermined operation on the GUI displayed onthe display 24, sends the unlock request, which includes the BLEauthentication information, to the key unit 12. As a result, thecommunication processing unit 1243 of the key unit 12 receives theunlock request.

In step S716, the authentication processing unit 1244 of the key unit 12performs authentication based on the BLE authentication informationincluded in the unlock request and, if the authentication is successful,turns on the power of the key unit 12.

In step S718, the authentication processing unit 1244 of the key unit 12sends a sending request to the RF sending processing unit 1242 and, inresponse to the sending request, the RF sending processing unit 1242sends the unlock signal that includes the restored key information tothe locking/unlocking device 11. As a result, the RF receptionprocessing unit 1132 of the locking/unlocking device 11 receives theunlock signal.

In step S720, the authentication processing unit 1133 of thelocking/unlocking device 11 performs authentication based on the keyinformation included in the unlock signal. If the authentication issuccessful, the locking/unlocking control unit 1134 drives the doorlocking motor 115 via the body ECU 114 to unlock the door of the vehicle10. Then, the user of the portable terminal 20 can get in and use thevehicle 10.

Next, steps S722 to S736 represent a series of operations at the end ofthe use of the vehicle 10.

In step S722, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 of the portableterminal 20, which is called from the third party application unit 234in response to a user's predetermined operation on the GUI displayed onthe display 24, sends a lock request, which includes the BLEauthentication information, to the key unit 12. As a result, thecommunication processing unit 1243 of the key unit 12 receives the lockrequest.

In step S724, the authentication processing unit 1244 of the key unit 12performs authentication based on the BLE authentication informationincluded in the lock request.

In step S726, if the authentication is successful, the authenticationprocessing unit 1244 of the key unit 12 sends a sending request to theRF sending processing unit 1242 and, in response to the transmissionrequest, the RF sending processing unit 1242 sends the lock signal thatincludes the restored key information to the locking/unlocking device11. As a result, the RF reception processing unit 1132 of thelocking/unlocking device 11 receives the lock signal.

In step S728, the authentication processing unit 1133 of thelocking/unlocking device 11 performs authentication based on the keyinformation included in the lock signal. If the authentication issuccessful, the locking/unlocking control unit 1134 drives the doorlocking motor 115 via the body ECU 114 to lock the door of the vehicle10.

On the other hand, after sending the lock signal to thelocking/unlocking device 11 via the RF sending processing unit 1242, theauthentication processing unit 1244 of the key unit 12 sends a sendingrequest to the communication processing unit 1243 in step S730 and, inresponse to the sending request, the communication processing unit 1243sends a lock notification to the portable terminal 20.

Then, after sending the lock notification to the portable terminal 20via the communication processing unit 1243, the authenticationprocessing unit 1244 of the key unit 12 turns off the power of the keyunit 12 in step S732.

In step S734, the authentication information erasing unit 235 of theportable terminal 20 deletes the BLE authentication information from thestorage unit 236 when the use end date and time has elapsed.

In step S736, the authentication information erasing unit 235 of theportable terminal 20 sends a sending request to the second communicationprocessing unit 232. In response to the sending request, the secondcommunication processing unit 232 sends a use end notification to thecenter server 30.

As described above, in this embodiment, the third party application unit234 communicates with the third party server 50, different from thecenter server 30, to provide a predetermined service (use reservationservice of the vehicle 10). When a predetermined operation (firstoperation) is performed on the GUI displayed on the display 24 duringexecution of the third party application unit 234, the locking/unlockingrequest unit 233 is called from the third party application unit 234 tosend the authentication information request signal to the center server30 via the second communication processing unit 232. Similarly, thelocking/unlocking request unit 233 is called from the third partyapplication unit 234 during execution of the third party applicationunit 234 to receive the BLE authentication information from the centerserver 30 via the second communication processing unit 232. In addition,when a predetermined operation (second operation) is performed on theGUI displayed on the display 24 during execution of the third partyapplication unit 234, the locking/unlocking request unit 233 is calledfrom the third party application unit 234 to send the lock request(third signal) or the unlock request (third signal), which includes theBLE authentication information received from the center server 30, tothe vehicle 10 (key unit 12) via the first communication processing unit231. Therefore, for example, when there is already a third party thatprovides services such as the use reservation service and the settlementservice used in car sharing, the locking/unlocking system in thisembodiment can realize car sharing while specializing in providing thefunction for locking and unlocking the vehicle 10 using the portableterminal 20, thus reducing the cost and the initial investment. Inaddition, the system in this embodiment, which can attract a user whouses a third-party application, makes it easier for the user to startbusiness quickly, for example, when the user wants to start thecar-sharing business. In addition, since the portable terminal 20 isconfigured to acquire the first authentication information, not from thethird party server 50, but from the center server 30 of the user's ownorganization, the first authentication information can be provided tothe portable terminal 20 without disclosing the first authenticationinformation to a third party. Furthermore, in some cases, it isunnecessary to strictly manage the use reservation, for example, whenvehicles are lent and borrowed between users using a communicationapplication. Therefore, by installing the locking/unlocking request unit233 in the portable terminal 20 in the form it is incorporated in acommunication application so that the BLE authentication information canbe acquired from the center server 30, the user can lend and borrowvehicles freely without exchanging electronic keys.

In this embodiment, the portable terminal 20 (locking/unlocking requestunit 233) requests the center server 30, different from the third partyserver 50 to which the third party application unit 234 is connected, tosend the BLE authentication information in response to a call from thethird party application unit 234 that is an existing application. Afterthat, the portable terminal 20 (the second communication processing unit232) receives the BLE authentication information from the center server30. Therefore, since the BLE authentication information is stored in thecenter server 30 different from the third party server 50 to which anexisting application connected and is managed according to a dedicatedsecurity policy, the leakage of the BLE authentication information tothe outside world can be reduced. In addition, when the BLEauthentication information is sent to the portable terminal 20 inresponse to the authentication information request signal from theportable terminal 20, the center server 30 authenticates the user basedon the identification information on the user of the portable terminal20 included in the authentication information request signal. Therefore,even when an access is made to the center server 30 via a third partyapplication, security can be maintained.

Although the mode for carrying out the present disclosure has beendescribed in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to suchspecific embodiments but various modifications and changes are possible.

For example, though a lock request and an unlock request, which are sentfrom the portable terminal 20 to the vehicle 10, are sent to the keyunit 12 in the embodiment described above, those requests may be sentdirectly to the locking/unlocking device 11. That is, the system may beconfigured in such a way that the portable terminal 20 receives the keyinformation, instead of the BLE authentication information, from thecenter server 30 and sends an unlock request or a lock request thatincludes the key information to the locking/unlocking device 11 andthat, in response to the unlock request or lock request, thelocking/unlocking device 11 performs authentication and lock or unlockthe vehicle 10.

In addition, though the subject of locking/unlocking and use reservationis a vehicle in the above-described embodiments, the present disclosureis not limited to a vehicle if the subject is available to a pluralityof users in different time zones and can be locked/unlocked. In otherwords, the vehicle that is the subject of locking/unlocking and usereservation in the above-described embodiments may be replaced withfacilities capable of being locked and unlocked such as a conferenceroom, a recreation center, a gymnasium, and the like. As a result, theconvenience of the users who will use the facilities is improved as inthe above-described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking and unlocking system comprising: aportable terminal; and a server capable of communicating with theportable terminal, wherein the portable terminal includes: a serviceproviding unit configured to provide a use reservation service for avehicle or facilities by communicating with another server, the otherserver being different from the server; a first sending unit configuredto send a first signal to the server in response to a request from theservice providing unit, when a first operation is performed duringexecution of processing by the service providing unit for providing theuse reservation service, the first signal requesting authenticationinformation used for locking and unlocking the vehicle or thefacilities; and a first receiving unit configured to receive theauthentication information from the server, and the server includes: asecond receiving unit configured to receive the first signal from theportable terminal; and a second sending unit configured to send a secondsignal to the portable terminal when the second receiving unit receivesthe first signal, the second signal including the authenticationinformation.
 2. The locking and unlocking system according to claim 1,wherein the portable terminal further includes: a third sending unitconfigured to send a third signal to a predetermined device provided inthe vehicle or the facilities in response to a request from the serviceproviding unit when a second operation is performed during execution ofprocessing by the service providing unit for providing the usereservation service, the third signal including the authenticationinformation, the third signal requesting locking or unlocking of thevehicle or the facilities.
 3. The locking and unlocking system accordingto claim 1, wherein the use reservation service is executed by anapplication program installed in the portable terminal, and the firstsending unit is configured to send the first signal to the server, whena user performs the first operation on the portable terminal duringexecution of the application program.
 4. The locking and unlockingsystem according to claim 3, wherein the first sending unit isconfigured to send the first signal to the server, when the userperforms an input operation on the portable terminal to cause theportable terminal to send information, the information including a usereservation for the vehicle or the facilities, during execution of theapplication program.
 5. The locking and unlocking system according toclaim 1, wherein the server is managed by another organization differentfrom an organization managing the other server.
 6. The locking andunlocking system according to claim 2, wherein the third sending unit isconfigured to send the third signal to the predetermined device when anoperation to lock or unlock the vehicle or the facilities is performed.7. A portable terminal capable of communicating with a server,comprising: a service providing unit configured to provide a usereservation service for a vehicle or facilities by communicating withanother server, the other server being different from the server; afirst sending unit configured to send a first signal to the server inresponse to a request from the service providing unit, when a firstoperation is performed during execution of processing by the serviceproviding unit for providing the use reservation service, the firstsignal requesting authentication information used for locking andunlocking the vehicle or the facilities; and a first receiving unitconfigured to receive the authentication information from the server. 8.The portable terminal capable of communicating with the server accordingto claim 7, further comprising: a third sending unit configured to senda third signal to a predetermined device provided in the vehicle or thefacilities in response to a request from the service providing unit whena second operation is performed during execution of processing by theservice providing unit for providing the use reservation service, thethird signal including the authentication information, the third signalrequesting locking or unlocking of the vehicle or the facilities.
 9. Theportable terminal capable of communicating with the server according toclaim 7, wherein the use reservation service is executed by anapplication program installed in the portable terminal, and the firstsending unit is configured to send the first signal to the server, whena user performs the first operation on the portable terminal duringexecution of the application program.
 10. The portable terminal capableof communicating with the server according to claim 9, wherein the firstsending unit is configured to send the first signal to the server whenthe user performs an input operation on the portable terminal to causethe portable terminal to send information, the information including ause reservation for the vehicle or the facilities, during execution ofthe application program.
 11. The portable terminal capable ofcommunicating with the server according to claim 7, wherein the serveris managed by another organization different from an organizationmanaging the other server.
 12. The portable terminal capable ofcommunicating with the server according to claim 8, wherein the thirdsending unit is configured to send the third signal to the predetermineddevice when an operation to lock or unlock the vehicle or the facilitiesis performed.
 13. A locking and unlocking method executed by a portableterminal, the portable terminal including a service providing unit, afirst sending unit, and a first receiving unit, the portable terminalbeing capable of communicating with a server in which authenticationinformation is stored, the locking and unlocking method executed by theportable terminal comprising: providing, by the service providing unit,a use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities by communicatingwith another server, the other server different from the server;sending, by the first sending unit, a first signal to the server inresponse to a request from the service providing unit when a firstoperation is performed during execution of processing by the serviceproviding unit for providing the use reservation service, the firstsignal requesting the authentication information used for locking andunlocking the vehicle or the facilities; and receiving, by the firstreceiving unit, the authentication information from the server.
 14. Thelocking and unlocking method executed by the portable terminal accordingto claim 13, wherein the portable terminal further comprises a thirdsending unit, and the locking and unlocking method executed by theportable terminal according to claim 13 further comprises: sending, bythe third sending unit, a third signal to a predetermined deviceprovided in the vehicle or the facilities in response to a request fromthe service providing unit, when a second operation is performed duringexecution of processing by the service providing unit for providing theuse reservation service, the third signal including the authenticationinformation, the third signal requesting locking or unlocking of thevehicle or the facilities.
 15. The locking and unlocking method executedby the portable terminal according to claim 13, wherein the usereservation service is executed by an application program installed inthe portable terminal, and the first signal is sent to the server by thefirst sending unit when a user performs the first operation on theportable terminal during execution of the application program.
 16. Thelocking and unlocking method executed by the portable terminal accordingto claim 15, wherein the first signal is sent to the server by the firstsending unit when the user performs an input operation on the portableterminal to cause the portable terminal to send information, theinformation including a use reservation for the vehicle or thefacilities, during execution of the application program.
 17. The lockingand unlocking method executed by the portable terminal according toclaim 13, wherein the server is managed by another organizationdifferent from an organization managing the other server.
 18. Thelocking and unlocking method executed by the portable terminal accordingto claim 14, wherein the sending the third signal to the predetermineddevice when the second operation is performed includes sending the thirdsignal to the predetermined device when an operation to lock or unlockthe vehicle or the facilities is performed.
 19. A non-transitory storagemedium storing a program, the program being installed in a portableterminal capable of communicating with a first server in whichauthentication information is stored and a second server which providesa use reservation service for a vehicle or facilities, theauthentication information being used for locking or unlocking thevehicle or the facilities, wherein the program is configured to causethe portable terminal to: provide the use reservation service bycommunicating with the second server; and send a first signal to thefirst server, when a first operation is performed, the first operationrelating to a reservation made by the use reservation service, the firstsignal requesting the first server to send the authenticationinformation used for locking and unlocking the vehicle or the facilitiesto the portable terminal.